The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-02-16
A. & M. College.

EDITOR CLARION: / was glad to see in
a recent issue of The CLARION Col. Gait
ney's letter in behalf of the A. Il NJ. Col
lege.
| spent day last week at the College,
and witnessed the classroom work of the
various departments. The methods of in
struction are vigorous and advanced, and
the student body impressed me by their
zeal, spirit, and eagerness. The faculty
and students alike manifest the greatest
earnestness in the class-work, and when
this was completed for the day, the stu
dents, in their working suits, hurried away
with equal alacrity to their tasks in man.
ual labor. The book-keeper showed me
the accounts of many boys who pay nearly
all their expenses by work.
The College has incidentally given an
impetus to our farming, stock, and dairy
interests, but its true sphere of utility to
the State is in educating the sons of far
mers to become stronger men and better
citizens. We should not, however, expect
to make a farmer of each student, for
some will find other avocations more con-
genial, and no one can gainsay their right
to choose his own profession.
An ambitious country boy frequently
finds his only capital 10 consist of muscle
and practical experience gained in over
coming difficulties daily presented in his
work, and when he expends this capital in
the acquisition of mental culture, as he
may do at the A. & NJ, the State secures a
valuable citizen, no matter what occupa-
ton he follows.
The majority of the students will become
farmers because their training fits them
for success in this pursuit, but the State is
equally interested in them if they qualify
themselves to be intelligent lawyers, doc
tors, or teachers.
Country boys who have the mettle to
work and pay for their own education, will
find the A. s. NJ. to be the College best suit
ed to their wants, and the State can GER
tainly afford to allow these worthy sons to
choose their fields of citizenship.
Our State institutions are centers OF edu-
cation, and the stimulus they exert to-
wards elevating our people to higher de-
grees o. intelligence already permeates
every County in the State with an influence
that inspi-es our youth to endure hard
ships and pr.vations for while, that in
the end they NY rise above them.
Agricultural colleges have failed in
many Str es, but ocss has been successful
so far, during its FIST five years-tbe most
irving period in the existence of college
This success is due to the thorough, vigo-
rols training, which the students receive
in those lines of study, for which the col
lege was established.
Gen. Lee has been true to his trust and
has managed our Agricultural College so az
to merit the support and patronage of the
best farmers through out the State. and the
popularity of the institution is evidenced
by the fact that he has had five hundred
applications for entrance this session.
This is the true test of the need for such
college, and it is an endorsement of
which the faculty are justly proud. 1t
shows that the A. & M. is fitting young
meu to succeed in life. and that our people
appreciate its work. Mississippi is liberal
in its appropriations for higher education.
The policy is wise one. The money re-
mains in the State, and is simply used to
elevate its citizens. There is no antago-
nism between the colleges and common
schools. They are mutually dependent,
n Itually stimulating. They are both
necessary factors in any educational sys-
tenn. Not to tear them down, but to build
thea up, should be the wish of every true
Mississippian. J. r. PRESTON.